District Reduces Energy Consumption, Saves Big

Yadkinville, NC -- School officials in Yadkin County are touting the results of an energy reduction project as proof that the district is doing all it can to limit costs and provide good education to students.

Michael Purdue, the district's energy coordinator says in the last 7-years, the district has been able to reduce energy usage by 20 percent and that has translated into significant monetary savings.

Purdue says in 2005, budget cuts forced administrators to think of ways to save money. The most obvious seemed to be their high utility bills - which burned a $700,000 hole in their budget every year.

They partnered with an energy company in Winston-Salem - Educon - to find ways to reduce consumption.

Fast forward 7 years later and the district has saved more than $200,000 a year -- a total of nearly $1.5 million.

"That's pretty much a check we didn't write. We didn't have to write for utility costs. Electricity costs. Oil,' Purdue said. "We try our best to not let it compromise any kind of comfort or safety."

The partnership with EduCon allowed three years of training where Purdue was adopt conservation strategies, audit energy use in the district's buildings, and operate a usage tracking software.

Purdue add that there were other common sense behavioral changes like turning off lights, computers and HVAC systems when school wasn't in session.

With all those strategies, the district has reduced energy consumption by 20 percent, according to information provided by the district.

"We're thinking about the taxpayer. I'm a taxpayer. I want to do everything i can, within my means and within the school system's means that we can save money but also we've got to educate our kids, said Stewart Hobbs.